Guillermo del Toro's gorgeous adult fairytales are moving, meaningful glimpses into the human experience, told the way traditional fairytales were meant to be told, and his masterpiece The Shape of Water is no exception. Magical, harrowing and a literal tale of life and death, it's hailed as one of the best movies to see in a lifetime, and as such, the film is filled with meaningful quotes.
The fact that neither of the main characters in the film speaks with their voices has absolutely no bearing in the depth conveyed through the movie's many lines. In fact, many of the most impactful lines are either signed by Elisa or narrated regarding the couple.
"The Monster Who Tried To Destroy It All"
Giles is a compelling narrator, his gentle voice providing a reassuring set of bookends around the Creature From the Black Lagoon-inspired story. His introduction of "the princess without a voice" parallels the princess of another tale, Pan's Labyrinth, which immediately intrigues the audience and establishes his warmth for her. But he also foreshadows the monster in her story, which, like the villain of Pan's Labyrinth, is a monster of the human variety:
"Perhaps I would just warn you, about the truth of these facts. And the tale of love and loss. And the monster, who tried to destroy it all."
"Some Of The Best Minds In The Country Peein' All Over The Floor"
Zelda, played by Olivia Spencer, is full of little quips that deliver a quick jolt of wisdom and this line is a great example. As they clean the restroom, where one of the most chilling scenes from the film occurs, she remarks, "Some of the best minds in the country peein' all over the floor in this here facility."
It's a bolder take on the classic, "He puts his pants on one leg at a time, just like everyone else." Zelda's keen wit is behind these words, which demonstrates not only the depth of her knowledge and the theme of being human but the humor of the film as well. Even in his darkest productions, del Toro is known to include a few lighter moments to give the audience a breather.
"Cornflakes Were Invented To Prevent Masturbation"
Sex is woven throughout the film in an adroit and unique fashion, from Elisa's self-pleasure routine, depicting a rare point of view for any film, to the intimate moments between the main characters in water. There is great beauty in these moments but it's the quote from Giles that reminds us about not only a historical tidbit regarding John Harvey Kellogg's role in circumcision, but how necessary pleasure is for most people and that it shouldn't be taken away.
"Y'know, uh - cornflakes were invented to prevent masturbation. It didn't work," he says. It's a wonderfully humorous moment that also reminds us of both our human and animal natures.
"You Don't Think That's What The Lord Looks Like, Do You?"
del Toro's villains are usually cruel humans cast aside creatures that certainly seem to have more humanity than they do, and Richard Strickland is a prime example. Michael Shannon does a disturbingly good job conveying this man's soullessness, with lines like, "You may think, 'That thing looks human.' Stands on two legs, right? But - we're created in the Lord's image. You don't think that's what the Lord looks like, do you?"
In this single line, Strickland sums up the reasoning for war and hatred around the world. When Hoffstetler reminds him that the creature is intelligent, he even further elaborates that the Soviets are also smart, "And we still kill them, don't we?"
"We Sell It Because We Don't Use It"
In Hellboy, del Toro spent the first film demonstrating what makes "the measure of a man," and in The Shape of Water, he deconstructs it within the character Strickland. Despite his brutal nature, Strickland considers himself to be a "decent" man, a thought that General Hoyt immediately corrects upon hearing:
"Decent? A man has the decency not to f*** up. Now that’s one thing, that’s real decent of him. But the other kind of decency? It doesn’t really matter. We sell it, but it’s an export. We sell it because we don’t use it." He goes on to tell him to clean up the mess he's made, and to "get some real decency, son."
"It Tells You A Lot About A Man"
Strickland further demonstrates his callousness not only by using the restroom in front of the cleaning women, but by refusing to wash his hands afterward, explaining, "A man washes his hands before or after tending to his needs. It tells you a lot about a man. He does it both times - points to a weakness in character."
Not only does Strickland's gross behavior show that he cares much more about his hygiene when touching his own person than spreading germs to anyone else, but also that he's put a lot of thought into it, which somehow makes it even worse.
"I Find You All Around Me"
At the end of the film, there is a hauntingly beautiful poem. Guillermo del Toro isn't quite sure about its origin, only that it's something he adapted from a book of Islamic poetry. Although del Toro referenced it as a "love letter to God," the poem truly epitomizes the love between Elisa and "The Asset," referencing the film's title and describing how the pair feel even when they aren't in the same room together:
"Unable to perceive the shape of you, I find you all around me. Your presence fills my eyes with your love. It humbles my heart, for you are everywhere."
"If We Do Nothing, Neither Are We"
While del Toro may have been drunk when he pitched the idea of The Shape of Water to Sally Hawkins, the star of the film, he certainly knew what he was doing when he incorporated lines like this. When Giles protests helping "The Asset," saying, "We can do nothing! I'm sorry! But this, this, this is just - Oh God, it's not even human. God," Elisa quickly reminds him of what makes one human in the first place.
He walks away from her so she bangs on the wall to get him to look back at her and signs, "If we do nothing, neither are we." It's an incredible line that reminds us that there is never a neutral party. We either act against injustice or we are complicit in it.
"He's A Wild Creature. We Can't Ask Him To Be Anything Else."
Going by IMDb rankings alone, The Shape of Water might only win third place among del Toro's fans and critics, but many of its lines are top-notch, like this quote stated by Giles. Describing "The Asset," he says, "He's a wild creature. We can't ask him to be anything else." This is an incredibly defining statement to make about humanity, erroneous as it is in the movie.
Yes, the audience can expect the creature to eat a cat, but it will also heal a woman rather than harm her. Humans may have created a society in which they strive to be more than wild creatures, but it's not always the case. The creature has more kindness in its heart than the villain, Strickland.
"He Sees Me For What I Am, As I Am"
Many people are familiar with Mignon McLaughlin's quote "No one has ever loved anyone the way everyone wants to be loved," and might agree that part of that longing is merely to be known--deeply, completely known by your person. When Elisa signs about needing to save the creature's life, she alludes to this with simple beauty:
"When he looks at me, the way he looks at me... He does not know, what I lack... Or - how - I am incomplete. He sees me, for what I - am, as I am. He's happy - to see me. Every time. Every day. Now, I can either save him... or let him die."